Hasp and staple assemblage

ABSTRACT

The hasp plate has swingably associated therewith the inner end portion of a novel type of strap of shackle-like formation with the extremities of its legs extending through slots therefor in the hasp plate and being engaged below the under-surface of the plate by a recess-accommodated, non-accessible hinge pin. Similarly the legs of the staple eye extend through slots therefor in the staple plate and are held against withdrawal by a non-accessible pin seated in a recess in the under-surface of the staple plate. Both the hasp strap and the staple eye may be easily assembled with their respective plates in a simple and expeditious manner.

1 States atent 11 1 1111 Foote 1 I I 5] Jan. 22, 1974 HASP AND STAPLE ASSEMBLAGE Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore [75] Inventor: Daniel J. Foote, wauwatosa Wis. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Curtis B. Morsell, Sr.

[73] Assignee: Master Lock Company, Milwaukee,

Wis. [57] ABSTRACT Filed: May 1972 The hasp plate has swingably associated therewith the [21] APPL No: 255,540 inner end portion of a novel type of strap of shacklelike formation with the extremities of its legs extending through slots therefor in the hasp plate and being U.S- Clt engaged below the unde gsurface of the plate a re- Int. Cl. cess accommodated non accessible hinge [58] Field of Search 292/246, 247, 281-287 lal-ly the legs of the Staple eye extend h h slots therefor in the staple plate and are held against with- [56] References Clted drawal by a non-accessible pin seated in a recess in UNITED STATES PATENTS the under-surface of the staple plate. Both the hasp 722,344 3 1903 Wirt 292/281 Strap and the Staple y y be easily assembled with 3,476,429 11/1969 Foote their respective plates in a simple and expeditious 493,456 3/1893 Violet manner. 834,461 10/1906 Fair 292/247 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAINTED- 3.787, 082

SHEU 2 BF 3 PATENTED JAN 2 2 I974 sum 3 m a HASP AND STAPLE ASSEMBLAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION i No matter how strong and tamper-proof a padlock may be, its effectiveness for security purposes, is no greater than that of the complementary member or members with which it is engaged. Where a padlock is used with a conventional hasp and staple assemblage, unauthorized release and removal of the padlock by a thief or tamperer can be accomplished if he can separate the staple eye legs from the mounting plate which is normally affixed to a support, wall or door. Unauthorized access might also be gained by a removal of the staple plate and/or the hasp assemblage from the complementary door members to which they are affixed. Such difficulties are overcome by the hasp and staple assemblage of the present invention which provides in the hasp unit inaccessibility to the securing means for both the hasp plate and the staple plate when the swingable strap is in its secured staple-engaging position, and

non-accessible and covered means for hingedly associating the hasp strap with the hasp plate. Additionally,

the legs of the staple eye, which extend through open ings therefor in the staple plate, are non-removably held to said plate by covered and non-accessible means located between the support and the inner face of the staple plate. Consequently, if extreme forces should be applied to the staple eye or the other elements of the hasp and staple assemblage they will be ineffectual to cause withdrawal of the eye legs from the staple plate or removal of the hasp and/or staple plates from their mountings, or detachment of the hasp strap from the hasp plate. The herein disclosed improvements are applicable to padlocks of all sizes, but find particular utility in connection with the use of large padlocks which require relatively large and heavy duty, alloy steel staples which resist cutting and severance.

To the best of applicants knowledge and belief there are no examples inthe prior art of hasp and staple assemblages wherein the means for attaching the hasp strap and the staple eye to the hasp plate and staple plate, respectively, are of the covered, non-accessible type here disclosed, together with the non-accessible and covered means for securing the hasp and staple plates to their mounting members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION the hasp and staple plates arecovered and inaccessible to a tamperer when the hasp strap is in its flat staple eye engaging position; in which the means for hingedly connecting the hasp strap to its plate is covered, concealed and inaccessible; wherein there are means for preventing the unauthorized withdrawal of the legs of the staple eye from its mounting plate; and wherein the staple eye is so mounted that it may deflect laterally slightly to facilitate alinement with the hasp strap, when necessary.

The invention has as its further objectives the provision of a heavy duty hasp and staple assemblage which is not vulnerable to a tamperer, is strong and durable, is practical to manufacture and is extremely easy to assemble, and which is otherwise well suited for the purposes set forth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters designate the same or similar parts in all of the views:

FIG. I is a plan view of the improved hasp and staple assemblage with the units shown mounted on a door or the like and an adjoining frame member or support, the hasp strap being in its operative flat portion engaging the staple eye;

FIG. 2 is a similar'plan view only with the hasp strap being swung to its open position at right angles to the planes of the hasp and staple plates;

FIG. 3 is an inverted plan viewof the hasp and staple assemblage in the position of FIG. 1, the supporting surfaces being omitted;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately along line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately along line 55 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an inner end.and side perspective view of the shackle-like hasp strap with the strap cover plate removed;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pin which hingedly associatesthe inner end of the hasp strap with the recessed under-side of the hasp plate, the same form of pin also being used to secure the inner ends of the staple eye within the recessed under-side of the staple plate;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the hasp and staple assemblage-showing the manner in which the inner end portions of the hasp strap and staple eye are projected out of their plate recesses for easy pin insertion before attachment of the strap cover plate during assembly;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of hasp wherein the inner end portions of the hasp strap are hingedly mounted in a turn-table or disc which forms the central portion of the hasp plate; and

FIG. 10 is a similar fragmentary plan view of the modification only showing the position the hasp strap may assume when disengaged from the staple eye.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to the drawings it will appear that the improved hasp and staple assemblage includes a hasp unit and a staple unit, generally indicated by the numerals l5 and 16 respectively. One of said units, as the hasp unit 15, may be borne, for instance, by a door 17 or a similar closure member adjacent the freeable edge thereof and the other unit, the

staple unit, may be borne by a'stationary frame member 18 adjacent to and in operative alinement with the hasp unit. The hasp unit includes a flat plate 19 with a group of openings 20 therein for receiving securing means 21. Also, the hasp plate .19 may be formed with a more remote opening 23 which can receive an auxiliary securing means, such as bolt 24. Similarly, the staple unit includes a flat plate 25 formed with a group of openings 26 for receiving securing means 27. The various receiving means mount the hasp and staple plates 19 and 25 on the exposed outer faces of the complementary supports 17 and 18 as in FIG. 2. When the hasp strap 22 is in its downturned operative position, it covers and protects the securing means 27 for the staple plate, in addition to covering the group of hasp plate securing means 21, rendering the same inaccessible.

The previously mentioned hasp strap 22 has its inner end portion hingedly connected to the hasp plate 19 by novel and inaccessible hingepin means, which will be described hereinafter. Said strap 22, shown in detail in FIG. 6, takes the form ofa U-shaped, elongated shackle with its curved, closed end outermost and with the free ends of its legs 28 being down-tumed and rounded, as at 29. Each of said downturned shackle leg portions 29 has a transverse hinge pin-receiving opening 30 therein.

Extending through the hasp plate I9 near its left hand end relative to FIGS. 1 and 2 are a pair of transversely spaced-apart elongated, stepped openings 31. The space between said openings 31 corresponds to the distance between the shackle leg portions 29 and said openings are of a size to permit the free insertion and removal of the shackle leg portions 29 and hinging movements of the strap shackle. The underside of the hasp plate 19 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) is formed with an eccentrically shaped recess 32 joining the openings 31 and extending therebeyond. Said recess corresponds to the shape of a hinge pin, generally indicated by the numeral 33 and shown in detail in FIG. 7. The midportion of said hinge pin is of reduced diameter with enlarged diameter portions 34 on opposite ends of the reduced portion and forming shoulders 35. The extremities of the portions 34 taper outwardly, as at 36. The eccentrically shaped recess 32 in the under-side of the hasp plate I9 corresponds in shape to the hinge pin 33 and is of a size to snugly accommodate the latter.

The structure thus far described greatly facilitates the assembly of the hasp shackle with the hasp plate 19 when the latter is in an unmounted condition. For this purpose the hasp strap shackle of FIG. 6 bare of its cover plate (later to be described) is manually positioned relative to the hasp plate in the manner shown in FIG. 8 with the shackle leg ends 29 being pushed through the hasp plate openings 31 until they project below the bottom surface of the hasp plate, exposing the openings 30. Then the hinge pin 33 is pushed into the openings 30 to a balanced position, transversely joining the protruding shackle leg portions 29, extending equally beyond the outer faces of both leg portions 29. An upward pull on the shackle-like strap 22 will cause the parts to assume the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with the eccentric recess 32 snugly receiving the pin 33 and the leg portions 29 being lodged in the end enlargements of the recess 32. The lodgment is such that a tamperer cannot apply end-wise force to the hinge pin 33, if he could gain access thereto, to longitudinally shift the hinge pin in an attempt to separate the hinge connection between the hinge pin and the strap leg portions 29 as the complementary shoulders shown at 35 in FIG. 4 will preclude any axial or longitudinal displacement of said hinge pin. Also, should a tamperer use a tool or drill to unauthorizedly enter a side overhang of the hasp plate, the tool would strike one of the tapered ends 36 of the hinge pin and slide off, ineffectively.

With the strap shackle hingeldy connected to the hasp plate and the attainment of the condition of FIGS. 3 and 4, the strap shackle, held in the position of FIG. 8, is fitted with its cover plate, indicated by the numeral 37. The latter is introduced to the underside of the shackle legs 28 and the outwardly and downwardly flared and curved sides 38 of the plate 37 have a force fit with peripheral portions of the legs 28. The top surface of the plate, between the legs 28, may carry decorative or identification material. The end of the plate 37 adjacent the inner end of the hasp strap forms an abutment to prevent displacement of the hasp strap relative to the hasp plate to a position similar to that shown in FIG. 8 and precludes unauthorized access to the hingepin 33. The forward end of the strap plate 37 terminates in an arc adjacent the innerv end of the eye 40 to provide an elongated opening 39 between the outer ends of the strap legs 28 and of a size and shape to receive a staple eye 40, when'the assemblage is arranged for usage.

The staple unit of the assemblage heretofor generally indicated by the numeral 16 includes the previously mentioned staple plate 25 proportioned as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 and adapted for mounting in the manner previously described on a support element 18 so as to be overlapped by the hasp strap 22 when the latter is in its down-swung operative position. The staple eye 40 has the free ends of its legs mounted in the staple plate 25 and said eye extends longitudinal of said plate intermediate the longitudinal margins thereof so that the protruding portion of the staple eye will aline with the elongated opening 39 in the hasp strap structure.

Both the staple eye 40 and the shackle portion of the hasp strap 22 are preferably relatively heavy and are formed ofa strong alloy metal. The staple eye 40 is generally of inverted-U formation and the free extremities 41 of the eye legs are adapted to extend through spaced-apart .openings 42 therefor (see FIG. 2) in the staple plate. The underside of the staple plate is formed, intermediate its side edges with an eccentric recess 43 of the same size and shape as recess 32 formed in the underside of the hasp plate only it extends at right angles to the direction of extent of the hasp plate recess 32. Said staple plate recess 43 joins the recesses 42 and said recess 43 corresponds to the shape of the previously mentioned hinge pin 33. It should be observed that the pin 33 used for the securement of the staple eye to its plate is identical to the pin shown in FIG. 7 used for the hinged mounting of the hasp strap. The reduced mid-portion of the pin for the staple eye, where it joins the separated enlargements 34, provides shoulders 35 as previously described and the enlarged portions 34 of the staple pin 33 pass through openings 44 therefor in the staple eye ends 41. The extremities of the staple. eye pin 33 are tapered as at 36. I

When the staple plate 25 is in an unmounted condition the assembly of the staple eye 40 therewith may be effected very easily. The legs of the staple eye are pushed through the plate openings 42 (see FIG. 2) until they project below the bottom surface of the staple plate, as in FIG. 8, exposing the staple leg end openings 44. Then the pin 33 is pushed through the openings 44 to a balanced position, joining the protruding staple eye portions 41. An upward pull on the staple eye 40 will cause the parts to assume the position shown in FIG. 3 with the eccentric recess 43 snugly receiving-the pin 33 with the eye leg portions 41 being lodged in the end enlargements of the recess 43. The seating of the eye pin 33 and the ends of the staple eye legs is such that a tamperer cannot gain access to the staple eye mounting pin and the shoulders 35 will prevent any unauthorized attempt to shift thepin longitudinally, with the tapered ends 36 of the pin discouraging application of a drill or tool thereto, applied axially.

After the hasp and staple unit have been assembled as described and mounted on relatively movable support surfaces 17 and 18, the swingable member 17 may be locked in its closed position by swinging the hasp strap to its flat extended position wherein its aperture 39 receives the outwardly protruding closed end of the staple eye 40. A padlock or the like (not shown) may be applied to the latter. It should be mentioned that the openings 42 in the staple plate allow some latitude of sidewise movement of the staple eye which is desirable in alining it with the hasp strap opening 39 should warpage or shifting of the supporting surfaces 17 and 18 occur.

A slight modification of the hasp unit of the assemblage is illustrated in FIGS. '9 and of the drawings. There, the hasp plate 19 is formed with a circular recess 45 in which is mounted for rotation a tumable circular plate or disc 46 with the periphery of the latter being received by a circular groove 47 in the hasp plate 19' surrounding the opening 45. The downturned leg portions 29 of the hasp strap shackle are projected through openings 31 therefor in the turnable plate 46 and are secured against removal from the plate 46 by a shouldered pin 33 seated in a recess therefor on the underside of the circular member 46 in the same manner as is described in the principle form of the invention.

With the inner end of the hasp strap being carried by the tumable'hasp plate disc 46 when the extended outer end of the hasp strap isreleased from the staple eye 40 the weight of the hasp strap may cause the disc 46 and attached hasp strap to gravitate to the depending perpendicular position shown in FlG. 10. Thus, the released hasp strap may be maintained in a flat out of the way, depending position against the front face of the door or supporting surface 17.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the improved hasp and staple assemblage provides individual hasp and staple units wherein the securing means for the staple eye 40 and for the inner end of the hasp strap are inaccessible to a tamperer as they are lodged within accommodating recesses in the bottom portions of the hasp and staple plates. When the hasp strap is in its downturned secured position relative to the staple eye the securing means for the hasp and staple plates are covered and are inaccessible. The means for hingedly mounting the inner end of the hasp are novel, simple, and effective;-and assembly of the hasp strap and staple eye relative to their plates may be effected in a very convenient and expeditious manner. The improved hasp and staple assemblage besides being simple to manufacture and install, is strong and tamper proof, is relatively inexpensive, and is well adapted to the purposes set forth.

I claim;

1. In a hasp and staple assemblage wherein there are adjacent hasp and staple plates secured to related support members with each plate having pairs of openings therethrough, the hasp plate having a hasp strap asso ciated therewith and the staple plate having a staple eye associated therewith, the strap and eye both having legs on their inner end portions extending into the openings in their respective plates; similar means embedded in the undersides of both plates for preventing removal of the strap and eye from their respective plates,

2. In a hasp and staple assemblage wherein there are adjacent hasp and staple plates secured to related support members with the staple plate having an outwardly projecting staple eye associated therewith, the hasp plate having transversely spaced-apart, local openings therethrough with a recess formed in its underside communicating with said openings; a U-shaped hasp strap having angularly extended legs at its inner end movably received by said hasp plate openings; and a hinge pin lodged in said recess in the underside of said hasp plate and joining the opening received legs of the hasp strap to prevent their removal from said plate openings, the hasp strap when hingedly swung being engageable with or disengageable from the staple eye.

3. The assemblage recited in claim 2 wherein'the stock of the hasp plate adjacent the recess in its underside and the hinge pin are formed with cooperating means for preventing unauthorized axial displacement of the latter.

4. The assemblage recited in claim 2 wherein the hasp strap is a shackle-like member with a closed outer end and spaced-apart side leg portions with a plate closing the space between portions of said side legs but terminating short of the closed outer end of the hasp strap to provide an opening for receiving said staple eye' when the hasp strap is swung over the staple plate.- 

1. In a hasp and staple assemblage wherein there are adjacent hasp and staple plates secured to related support members with each plate having pairs of openings therethrough, the hasp plate having a hasp strap associated therewith and the staple plate having a staple eye associated therewith, the strap and eye both having legs on their inner end portions extending into the openings in their respective plates; similar means embedded in the undersides of both plates for preventing removal of the strap and eye from their respective plates.
 2. In a hasp and staple assemblage wherein there are adjacent hasp and staple plates secured to related support members with the staple plate having an outwardly projecting staple eye associated therewith, the hasp plate having transversely spaced-apart, local openings therethrough with a recess formed in its underside communicating with said openings; a U-shaped hasp strap having angularly extended legs at its inner end movably received by said hasp plate openings; and a hinge pin lodged in said recess in the underside of said hasp plate and joining the opening received legs of the hasp strap to prevent their removal from said plate openings, the hasp strap when hingedly swung being engageable with or disengageable from the staple eye.
 3. The assemblage recited in claim 2 wherein the stock of the hasp plate adjacent the recess in its underside and the hinge pin are formed with cooperating means for preventing unauthorized axial displacement of the latter.
 4. The assemblage recited in claim 2 wherein the hasp strap is a shackle-like member with a closed outer end and spaced-apart side leg portions with a plate closing the space between portions of said side legs but terminating short of the closed outer end of the hasp strap to provide an opening for receiving said staple eye when the hasp strap is swung over the staple plate. 